Peter Chianca: Yes, it’s both wicked AND awesome

Wednesday

Sep 19, 2012 at 12:01 AMSep 19, 2012 at 7:15 PM

I do most of my writing for WickedLocal.com here in Greater Boston, where we’re currently running the “Wicked Local Legends Challenge.” I had originally figured this was sort of a “Battle of the Network Stars” for Massachusetts celebrities, where people like Boston Mayor Tom Menino and Woburn playwright Eric Bogosian would compete in obstacle courses and swimming relays.

Peter Chianca / At Large

I should start off by saying that I’m not originally from Massachusetts, which means I grew up using the word “wicked” as an adjective (“That was totally wicked!”) rather than an adverb (“That was wicked awesome!”). Having said that, I have a feeling my sixth-grade language arts teacher would be horrified at either usage.

I bring this up because these days I do most of my writing for WickedLocal.com here in Greater Boston, where we’re currently running the “Wicked Local Legends Challenge.” I had originally figured this was sort of a “Battle of the Network Stars” for Massachusetts celebrities, where people like Boston Mayor Tom Menino and Woburn playwright Eric Bogosian would compete in obstacle courses and swimming relays. The fact that it’s NOT this means that someone should be fired.

But as it turns out, it’s pretty cool anyway – the Wicked Local Legends Challenge is actually an online interactive quiz that tests your knowledge of which Massachusetts residents are the most wicked, local and legendary, not necessarily in that order. It requires you to have a working knowledge of such trivia as who Aerosmith is (secretary of defense under Reagan) and who said “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams” (Whitey Bulger).

In other words, it requires some breadth of understanding of famous Massachusetts residents, as evidenced by the contest logo featuring JFK, Mark Wahlberg and Paul Revere. Get one look at those three together and I’m sure you’ll think exactly the same thing I did: that this would make the best roommate reality show EVER.

JFK: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what the heck Paul Revere keeps doing with all the toilet paper.”

Paul Revere: “You test me, sir! Pardon me if I enjoy my time in the backhouse reading Poor Richard’s Almanac! As they say, one if by land, two if by sea!”

Actually, it’s a trick question: My father-in-law IS Karl Malden! (OK, that’s not true, but he really is from Malden, which is the next best thing to being Karl Malden, who is actually from Chicago. Just ask Norman Greenbaum.)

So whether you’re a lifer or a transplant like me, I’d recommend you visiting WickedLocal.com and trying your hand at the Wicked Local Legends Challenge. It’s your chance to see what you’ve picked up from living here, and from watching “Next Stop Wonderland” over and over and over again. (Not me – other people.)

There’s even a “great prize,” although no one has told me what it is. But let’s just say if it were to involve a month of butler service from Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Now that would be totally wicked.

Peter Chianca is editor in chief for GateHouse Media New England’s north-of-Boston newspapers and websites and a New York native, but don’t hold that against him. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/pchianca.